Islamists to win Egyptian elections? Army touts massive voter turnout, Muslim Brotherhood risk peace

After massive voter turnout at the start of Egypt's landmark parliamentary elections, officials have begun counting the ballots. After the fall of President Hosni Mubarak, many have been eagerly anticipating voting in the first free election, with no ballot rigging or political suppression. Final results are due on January 13th, but initial tallies from regions which have already voted should be announced today.

Bar Ilan University Professor Hillel Frisch, also a researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies gives us an in-depth, Israeli take on the elections. He says upper and middle-class voters have turned out in droves, but it's unclear whether as many lower-class people voted. He said people are very excited about the election and following the same pattern as Tunisia.

He explains that the Muslim Brotherhood is going to be the major party, but the central issue is whether they will win the plurality or an absolute majority. If they win the majority, the issue for Israel will be whether they abrogate the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. Frisch believes they won't because Egypt is an energy importer and depends on international markets and aid.

When asked about secular parties, "seculists," Frisch's outlook was dire. He says the "good guy" liberals may start revolutions, but better-organized, better-funded, and more ruthless radicals often seize control. In Egypt, the Islamists are playing both ends against the middle by inciting liberals to protest against the Egyptian army, which may be the only force protecting the liberals from Islamist control.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• yt:crop=16:9
• jn1
• jewish news one
• Egyptian
• voters
• turnout
• Egypt
• parliamentary elections
• ballots
• hosni mubarak
• bar ilan university
• hillel frisch
• begin-sadat center
• muslim brotherhood
• israel
• peace treaty
• secular
• seculists
• radicals
• islamists
• Egyptian army
• liberals

[mmitwaly]

The only state that will fail is Israel because you are terrorists and oppress a nation "Palestinians".

[jubani93]

The Islamic movement will take over. Tunisia, lbyia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen,Jorden, Bahrain, etc. That's because ur democracy didn't work out for 'em during the last decades.

[batmanpronz]

@jahur101 Reason and logic will triumph. Your kind will die like the backwards, uneducated animals that you are. Your "allah" is a bigger joke than the clerics that preach nonsense and illogic. This is the age of reason. This is the age of atheism.

[batmanpronz]

Sickening. Pretty soon Egypt will turn into a fourth century Islamic shithole. Homosexuals will be stoned, rape victims will be hung, and women will have to cover up. Disgusting and sickening.

[unitedstatesofamirca]

islamics win in every middle east country not just egypt

[unitedstatesofamirca]

@edouardesc  shut up

[1982mockingbird1982]

I really hope this is a mistake and that this revolution isnt hijacked by Islamist's or a cowardly, self serving Islamist majority. Islam goes hand in hand with authoritarianism and tribalism and thats why so many Muslim countries became dictatorships in the 1st place. The brave secularist youth who led this revolution deserve freedom from Islam.

[Tansirul]

when he said "mubarak did a gud job" i just couldn't stop laughin

EPIC FAIL

[ririhsj]

interesting point of view

[Mrbobab]

@edouardesc

Keep dreaming, dude!

[edouardesc]

Islamist are just stupids that's all, there willl ba another a new revolutions to destroy this religious tiranny